Michele Francis

Caring.com Expert

About

Michele Francis is a clinical social worker at the University of California, San Francisco, Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Wednesday September 12, 2007

    1. How can I overcome my father's refusal to ask for help with his cancer care?

      Answer - Such secretiveness is not at all uncommon, and it's almost always a generational issue. Your father grew up in a very different era: 50 years ago, there was a great deal of fear and secrecy surrounding cancer, and people rarely talked about it.But they also didn't have much hope of a cure; a diagnosis of cancer usually meant a long, slow decline... 1 Comment

  2. Thursday September 06, 2007

    1. Since her cancer diagnosis, my mother has seemed very depressed. Does she need professional help?

      Answer - Living with cancer is one of the most stressful and destabilizing things that can happen to someone, and depression, mood swings, anger -- even serious mental illness -- are very common. You may feel like you know your mother well, and suddenly she's different...

    2. My mother has been depressed since her cancer diagnosis; how can I persuade her to see a therapist?

      Answer - Many cancer patients resist seeking help for depression. Just the word therapist or psychologist has a negative meaning for them. Your mother may feel that her problems "really aren't that bad." I recommend using the term counselor with her, and explaining that it's very common for cancer patients to see one...

  3. Monday August 27, 2007

    1. How can I get my parent to eat without nagging?

      Answer - The short answer is that in this situation there's only so much you can do. As caregivers, we see food as love. And when the person we're caring for is losing weight, in our minds food becomes medicine, too. Of course you desperately want your father to eat, and you're spending lots of time trying to... 1 Comment